Country Artists Share What They Are Most Thankful for This Thanksgiving

It’s Thanksgiving again, and all across America folks are celebrating by spending time with family, eating too much food, taking a nap on Grandma’s couch and generally just being thankful. Country stars have no shortage of reasons to give thanks, but they don’t take that for granted — they appreciate the blessings they’ve been given.

Taste of Country asked the genre’s top acts, “What are you most thankful for?” Their answers are varied, but each inspiring in their own way. See what they had to say:

Eric Church: “Family. I think any time you have a baby and going through that with Katherine, too, it strengthens what family means to me. You always think it means something, but I found that it really pales in comparison to what it means after you’re parents. For me, I’m very thankful that everybody’s happy and just thankful that I have my family with me. They travel on the road with me, and it keeps me pretty grounded. It helps me. I go do what I do on stage and try to do it 110 percent, and then coming off stage, it’s good to have family around that I can kind of balance the other things. It’s kind of like a see-saw.”

Justin Moore: “We’ve had another really good year. Career wise, we have a lot to thankful for. ‘Bait a Hook’ was another big record for us and sold a lot of albums and all that stuff. [My current single], ”Til My Last Day’, is doing well now, so hopefully we can finish this year off strong with the career and the Eric Church tour. Obviously I’m most thankful for my family and my parents still being healthy and my kids being healthy and all that stuff.”

Darius Rucker: “I’m thankful for my family and their health. I’m thankful to be living in the greatest country in the world. I’m thankful to just be working. I’m thankful to be alive … thank God for everything He’s done for me. I’m just a pretty thankful dude.”

Thomas Rhett: “This year has just been a year of firsts, and I could not feel more blessed to be doing what I’m doing. I’m just so thankful that I get to go into town and write songs and play them for people that love my music. I’m extremely thankful for my wife and my family and my friends and all the support that I have been given this year in pursuing my dreams. There’s just so much to be thankful for, and it’s all been kind of packed into a big year.”

Florida Georgia Line‘s Brian Kelley: “I’m thankful that I get to spend Thanksgiving with my family. My mom and dad and sister are coming to Nashville. The whole side of my dad’s family lives out here — tons of aunts, uncles and cousins. We’re all going to be in one place, so that will be good to spend time with them and hang out.”

Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard: “We could sit here and say everything that we’re thankful for and that’s great, but if it wasn’t for the team around us – the people who made all this happen – we would not be here. I’m super thankful for everybody who believed in us, even back when we weren’t who we are now. It took a lot to get us here. It’s cool to have everybody on board. It’s a cool team, and everybody works so hard and believes in us. I’m super thankful for that.”

Edens Edge‘s Hannah Blaylock: “I’m thankful for family and the amazing, incredible fans who have believed in us and who have followed us through this crazy, wonderful ride. I’m thankful for my bandmates, and I’m thankful for my husband. I’m thankful for my friends and the people in Nashville who have believed in us and have invested in us in so many ways with their hearts and their souls and dollars. I’m thankful for the Opry. I’m thankful for them accepting us from day one. You never know what is going to happen in this business, and they have time and time again have said you will always be welcome here. Every time we’re in town and we go play, it’s like a homecoming for us. It’s a home away from home. It’s our church. I’m thankful for that. I’m a very, very lucky gal. I am so thankful for my life.”

Dustin Lynch: “This year I’m most thankful for my family, friends, fans and team that believe in me and my music. It’s been an amazing 12 months since I’ve had turkey and dressing last year … thank you all!”

Kristy Lee Cook: “I love Thanksgiving because it is about being with family and loved ones, and I’m very family oriented. This Thanksgiving I am very fortunate to be able to go to Denver and see my sister and her family. Plus, on top of that, my single, ‘Airborne Ranger Infantry,’ was released not long ago. So this year I have so much to be thankful for: a healthy family, animals and the friends I have are the best I could of ever asked for!”

The Bellamy Brothers‘ David Bellamy: “I think we’re always thankful that we can continue to do what we do and have our health and our music… we still do 150 shows a year, and I think you become more appreciative at our age than we did, even when we were younger. We always appreciated it, but now it’s like, ‘Oh wow… I still feel pretty good for my age! I’m going to go out and tour the world again this year!’ We’re thankful for that.”

Sunny Sweeney: “I’m thankful for my family every year. They pretty much keep everything together for me… no matter whether they are crazy or not!”

Josh Turner: “I’m thankful for two great album debuts and a lot of great shows this year. Fans have been really, really dynamic and supportive this year, even out on our recent west coast run. That’s something to be thankful for … seeing the fans continuously show their support and never wavering. I appreciate them.”

LoCash Cowboys‘ Chris Lucas: “I am thankful for my adorable son who is my life! And of course my beautiful wife! And my family and God for giving me this life and believing in my dream.”

LoCash Cowboys’ Preston Brust: “This year I am thankful for my family, my friends, my health, my dog Louie living 13 strong years, my band, my manager [Tony Conway], Sony / ATV, A.J.E. and for ‘You Gonna Fly’ / Keith Urban and ‘Truck Yeah’ / Tim McGraw! I am also extremely thankful that I get to write, record and entertain for a living, and for freedom in America.”

Hunter Hayes: “I always go for three things, and that’s faith, family and music. I don’t think I could live without all three of them in my life. I love what I do, and I love my music. I’m really thankful that I get to continue to do it every day. The success is nothing without my family and friends to enjoy it with. They’ve been really supportive my whole life. Now we’re all getting to see this happen. It’s really kind of surreal. It’s awesome to share it with them. Every night I say my prayers, and I’m thankful for what I get to do. It’s a beautiful life.”

Josh Thompson: “This year I’m most thankful for my fans. They have kept us out on the road during a big transition.”

Love and Theft‘s Eric Gunderson: “I am most thankful for my wife. She puts up with a lot. I am never home. She is very supportive and takes care of everything at home as far as bills and cleaning and all that stuff. I am grateful to have her in my life. I am grateful for Stephen and the opportunity that we get to play music together almost every day. Those are the two things I am most thankful for.”

Love and Theft’s Stephen Barker Liles: “I am really, really grateful for my incredible family. I have a great support system, and I think that’s one of the things that keeps me grounded. I am very lucky and very blessed to have that. I am very thankful for the success of our band this year. We’re going on our seventh year together. I’m just thankful that I get to be doing music. It’s the best job ever. We get to travel all the time, so I’m thankful for that. I’m thankful for all the amazing friends we’ve met. I’m thankful for my health. I never get sick. I haven’t been sick in two years!”

Rose Falcon: “I have to say I am most thankful for my dad. I am an only child, and he has raised me on his own since I was four years old. Not only is he one of my very best friends, but he taught me how to write a song, and that has been the most incredible gift anyone has ever given me.”

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